Door construction



April 4, w. w; EAGER ET AL 2,037,369

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 24, 1.933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTUHS ML M ' JTTUQNEI I April 14, 1936.

W. W. EAGER ET AL DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 24, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 JVENTU E JTTUENEZ' Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES DOOR CONSTRUCTION Wesley W. Eager, Los Angeles, and Columbus A.

Tierney, San Marino, Calif.

Application April 24, 1933, Serial No. 667,628

10 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of closures, and has for an object the provision of a new and improved type of construction particularly adapted for such closures as garage doors, both single and multiple, aircraft hangar doors, market doors, and the like.

A more detailed object of our invention is to provide a closure construction as described which is of the knock-down type, being comprised of interchangeable standard elements which are adapted to be packed in a minimum of space, thereby facilitating crating, storing, and other handling, and yet which, when assembled, have all the appearance of being of unitary construction fabricated in the usual manner.

A further object in this connection is the provision of a type of construction of the general character indicated, one of the outstanding attributes of which when assembled is its remark- 20 able ability to withstand warping, wracking, and

torsional stresses of relatively great magnitude without damage to the closure, in spite of its being of knock-down construction, which permits it being taken apart with facility.

Another object of our invention is to provide details of construction which impart thereto great convenience of assembly and disunion, rigidity, serviceability, and ruggedness of the assembled structure, as well as attractive appearance and adaptability to many different types of installation, as will be explained more fully hereinbelow.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of our invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

It is to be understood, however, that we do not wish to be limited to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as we may adopt variations of the preferred form Within the scope of our invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of aportion of a door embodying the principles of our invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, the plane of section being taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the direction of view as indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in horizontal section, the plane of section being indicated with line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and the direction of view by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is another enlarged detail view taken upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 view as indicated.

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the framework constituting one of the important features of the door of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view taken in the direction of arrow 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal detail view taken upon the line 'l-1 of Fig. 5 with the direction of view as indicated.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view in horizontal section taken through the end of slightly modified form of door.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail View in vertical section taken through the lower edge of the door of Fig. 8.

Broadly considered, our improved closure construction comprises a knock-down frame which, when assembled, defines a two-way truss highly efficient in resisting any stresses tending to alter the configuration of the frame. The frame is in the form of plurality of units, any number of which may be employed, means being provided to interconnect them so as to yield a continuous rigid frame, the several units of which cooperate with each other to form the continuous two-way truss above referred to. Sheathing is provided in the form of a plurality of identical and interchangeable panels, of which the necessary number may be employed to cover whatever length of frame has been assembled. Hence only standard parts need be carried in stock, and the necessary number thereof utilized to provide whatever length of door is required, the only limitation in this connection being that the length of the door be substantially a multiple of the length of each of the frame units.

More specifically described, the preferred embodiment of our invention comprises a frame ll illustrated to best advantage upon Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and a covering or sheathing therefor comprising a plurality of panels l3 mounted thereupon so as to conceal the frame II.

The frame ll as well as the sheathing I2 is of knock-down construction, being composed of elements rigidly but removably secured together so as to permit disunion of the several parts, thereby facilitating storing, crating, shipping and other handling. However, when in assembled relation the parts are so associated and so interconnected that even though of relatively light construction it is possessed of a remarkable degree of rigidity making it highly resistant to warping, wracking and torsional stresses, i. e.

with a direction of to any stress tending to alter the configuration thereof.

We accomplish this desirable result by fabricating the frame II so as to define a plurality, preferably two beams I6 and I1 disposed in spaced parallel relation and extending longitudinally of the frame. Each beam, as clearly shown upon Figs. 6 and 7, is preferably in the form of a truss, and comprises two chords I8 and I9 extending longitudinally thereof. Thesechords I8 and I9 are joined at their ends as indicated at 2| and 22, but are separated from each other at their central portions by one or more struts 24, each of which is in the form of a flat plate. It will be observed that each chord I8, I9, is composed of a plurality of members, each of which is preferably an angle iron of suitable length. This length coincides with the length of the unit, a plurality of which are assembled in end to end relation so that they cooperate with each other "in end-to-end relation so that theycooperate with each other in defining the door frame I I of the desired length. The plates 24 are firmly attached to the angle irons as by pins 25; and each plate 24 is of such width that it holds the associated ends of the four angle irons associated therewith separated from each other, thus making it possible for each plate 24 to serve as a strut 'in'the associated truss It or H as the casemight be.

It will be observed that in the modification illustrated by Figs.'5, 6 and '7 the frame I I consists of two units 26 and 21; hence the chords I8 and I9 in each unit are joined together at one end andattached to a plate 24 at the other end. It should be explained that when constructing a door of such length that more units are necessary, only those units at the ends of the door will have their chords joined to each other, all the other units having their chords separated from each other at both ends by one of the plates 24; and it should also be explained that the connecting plates 24 employed under such circumstances will be somewhat wider than where only two units are used, thus increasing the depth of the trusses I6 and I1 proportionately with their spans. We have also found it advisable to provide spacers 23 between the chords I8 and I9 of those units which are at the ends of the frame I I, these spacers being preferably provided by inserting bolts 29 between the two chords, these bolts having washers 3| pressed by the head 32 and nut 33 of each bolt against the opposite faces of the associated chords. One of each of these sets of Washers is in the form of a substantially rectangular plate corresponding in width to the spacing between those flanges of the angle iron chords I8 and I9 which are parallel to the plane of the door, hence these rectangular washers serve to hold the chords separated from each other at those points.

As stated hereinabove the frame II comprises at least two trusses IE, I'I, disposed in spaced parallel relation extending longitudinally of the door in such position that the plane of each truss extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the completed door. However, the frame II comprises, in addition to the trusses I6 and I! a plurality of struts 36, 31, 38, etc., and a plurality of tension members II and 42. The struts 3 .5 and 38 are conveniently formed of angle irons rigidly attached as by bolts or rivets at each end to one of the trusses I6 or H, and are disposed at the ends of the frame II. The other strut 3! (only one of which is employed in the illustrated modification) is in the form of a metal tube rigidly attached as by welding at each end to one of the plates 23. It should be explained that in a longer frame II a tubular strut 31 will interconnect the two plates 23 by means of which each two adjacent units 26, 21 are interconnected. As is well known, a tubular member is highly resistant to torsion, hence by employing tubular struts 31 the frame II is rendered highly resistant to torsional stresses which tend to twist the door in such a manner that one end thereof is moved out of parallelism with the other end thereof. Obviously the struts 3B, 31 and 3B serve to hold the upper and lower trusses I6 and I1 respectively spaced from each other, whereas the tension members 4| and 42 serve to hold the struts 36, 31 and 38 in true perpendicularity with the trusses I6 and I1. Thus it may be seen that the trusses I6 and I1 serve as the upper and lower chords in another truss the plane of which is perpendicular 'to those whose planes are perpendicular to the door. In other words, the frame II comprises a two-way truss highly resistant to bending in'any direction. Thetrusses I6 and I! serve to prevent warping of the door, i. e., to prevent movement of any portion of the door out of the plane there; whereas the other truss, which includes the trusses I6 and IT as the chords thereof, serves to prevent wracking of the door, i. e., movementof one end of the door with respect to the other end of the door but in the plane of thedoor; and. as explained hereinabove the inclusion *of tubular struts 31 adequately reinforces the frame I I against strains resultant from torsional stresses.

The sheathing I2 may be applied to one or both sides of the frame I I, and as stated hereinabove comprises a plurality of panels I3 disposed in side-to-side relation "and preferably extending transversely of the frame, i. "e. from the top to the bottom of the door. Each panel I3 is in the form of a plate the length of which coincides substantially with the height of the door and the Width of which is such that the length of each of the units 26, 21, of the frame II is a multiple thereof. Hence no matter how many units 26, 21, are necessary to provide a door of the desired length, the frame can be covered easily with panels, with the panels at the ends of the door having their outermost edges substantially in alinement with the ends of the frame I I.

Each panel has. its lateral edges reversely bent, thus defining flanges II which extend along the lateral edges of the panel from the top 42 to the bottom 43 of the door. We prefer, however, that instead of lying perfectly flatbetween the flanges 4-I, each panel be stamped or otherwise forced out of true planar configuration to provide a series of pyramidal portions 46, each consisting of'four triangular areas sloping upwards to 'a common apex 58. This configuration imparts an ornamental appearance to the finished door, and, of greater importance, 'it materially strengthens each of the panels I3 so as to reinforce it against warping.

The lateral flanges II cooperate with the 'means for interconnecting each two adjacent panels I3, which is in the form of a rib 49 Each of these ribs 49 is of substantially equilateral triangular cross-sectional configuration, the base of the triangle, however, being defined by two spaced flanges 5I in planar alinement adapted to seat under the lateral flanges II at the proximal edges of the two associated panels I3, as is clearly shown which hold separated the central portions of the upon Fig. 4. The means for anchoring the ribs 49 and the panels l3 to the frame I I comprises a plurality of bolts 56, the heads 5'! of which are disposed inside the ribs 49 with the shanks of the bolts extending therefrom between the edges of the associated panels l3 and either through a whole in one of the angle irons in one of the trusses l6 or I! as the case might be, or merely past one of these angle irons in close proximity thereto, so that when the nut 58 on the inner end of the bolt 56 is tightened it presses its washer 59 tightly against the inner face of the angle iron andthereby clamps the associated edges of the panel l3 against the outer face thereof.

Instead of utilizing the ribs .49 at the peripheral edge. of the door, however, an altered form of rib 6| is used. This rib 6| is in reality a binding strip comprising two ribs similar to the ribs 49, one of such ribs being disposed upon each face of the door but being interconnected with the corresponding rib on the opposite face of the door by a web portion 62. This web portion is depressed to form a continuous groove 63 extending longitudinally thereof, thus presenting a bead 64 on the inside of the strip 6| which is adapted to enter the space between the end edges of the panels l3 upon the two faces of the door, as clearlyshown upon Figs. 2 and 4, and thereby serve as a separator therefor. This structure, it should be explained, is employed upon a door both faces of which are covered with the panelling l2. Each of the portions 66 and 6'! of which the binding strip 6| is comprised is provided with a flange 68 adapted to seat under the associated flange 69, one of which is formed at each end of each panel I3. The binding strips are mounted inoperative position in a manner similar to that employed in assembling the ribs 49, i. e. by sliding them on longitudinally with their flanges engaged under the flanges of the panels, so that after they are in position the only manner in which they can bedisplaced is by movement in this same direction or in the opposite direction, the engagement between the flanges serving to prevent any move ment of the beads and ribs other than longitudinally. Thus it may be seen that an interlocking structure is provided, the several elements of which cooperate with each other so as to hold each other against displacement.

Inasmuch as thestrips 6| engage both faces of the door, they serve to bind the peripheral edges of the panels; and the parts are so propor-.

tioned and arranged that the space between the flanges 68 of each binding strip is materially less than the space between the panels on opposite faces of the door at the central portion of the door. Accordingly, the thickness of the door tapers off in all directions from the central portion to the edge, which type of construction has the double advantage of pressing the panels resiliently and with considerable force against the framework, thereby insuring a tight construction, and also providing a finished construction having a very attractive appearance. This inward bending of the paneling also serves to impose a material amount of tension upon the panels, for the reason that the binding strips 6| abut against the ends or" the struts 36, 31 and 38, or against the ends of the beams l6 and IT, as the case might be. This serves to rigidify the entire structure and assists in resisting warping and wracking, because it causes each strip or section of the sheathing to act as the chord of a truss wherein the struts are represented by the frame elements these panels adjacent their ends.

sheathing on oppositefaces of the door.

The groove 63 which is defined by the bead 64 provides a convenient pocket extending around the entire periphery of the door adapted to receive a strip H of resilient material, such as rubber, composition, or the like, which is adapted when the door is closed to engage the structure surrounding the door, thereby providing an efficient Weatherstrip therefor.

It should be explained that when the door is being constructed, and after the panels |3 have been positioned and interconnected by the ribs 49, the binding strips 6| at the ends of the door, 1. e. the binding strip-s extending parallel to the ribs 4|, should be placed in position, by sliding" them longitudinally onto the edges of the panels at the ends of the door. The result is that in the completed structure all of the ribs 49 and both binding strips 6| at the ends of the door abut at their respective ends against the inner sides of the binding strips 6| which extend along the top and bottom edges of the door. In other words, the top and bottom binding strips 6| which themselves have little tendency to move because of the fact that they can move only in a horizontal direction, prevent any movement of any of the other elements of the sheathing. Hence no bolts or other fastening means need be provided to anchor the panels l3, ribs 49 or binding strips 6|, inasmuch as they interengage each other in such a way that they look themselves against displacement. The bolts 56 hereinabove described therefore are not essential but are employed merely as a precautionary measure to yield a more firmly reinforced and more nearly unitary structure.

In the event that the door is provided with panelling |2 upon but one face thereof, the construction is substantially the same, with the exception that the binding strips employed are of a different type. For this type of construction, the binding strip 76 employed at each end of the door is illustrated upon Fig. 8 and comprises a body portion 11 of substantially box-shaped cross section, the base 18 of which, however, instead of being continuous across its width, is composed of two spaced flanges 19 and BI in planar alinement. The flange 8| is adapted to seat under the flange 4| extending along the lateral edge of the associated panel I3, whereas the flange 19 is clamped tightly against an extension 82 of one of the angle irons of each truss l6, I1, as by bolts 83 the heads 84 of which are disposed inside the box section. A continuous groove 86 is provided in the outer face of the box section to receive Weatherstripping 8'! similar to the strip 1| hereinabove described.

Fig. 9 illustrates the type of binding strip 9| employed along the top and bottom edges of the door when but one face of. the door is covered by panelling. It comprises a continuous strip of substantially channel shape, i. e., it consists of a base 92 having flanges 93 and 94, the planes of which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base 92. From the upper edges of the flanges 93 and 94 respectively, flanges 96 and 91 incline downwards and inwards into the channel. The planes of these flanges 96 and 91 are disposed at substantially 45 with the planes of the flanges 93 and 94, as clearly shown upon Fig. 9. The flange 96 is adapted to seat under the flanges 69 at the associated ends of all the panels IS on the door, whereas the flange 91 is disposed with its edge abutting against the outer faces of A groove 98 is formed in the outermost portion of the binding 9|, this being at the intersection of the base 92 with the flange 94; and Weatherstripping 99 similar to the weatherstrips l I and 81 previously mentioned is anchored in the groove 98. In this construction the flange 91 abuts against the ends of all the ribs 49 and. the ends of the binding strips 16 at the ends of the door.

By'employing the framework H of. the general character described hereinabove, and which comprises a plurality of spaced parallel trusses disposed with their planes perpendicular to the plane of the door and so associated with each other and so interconnected by struts and tension members that they represent the chords of another truss, the plane of which either coincides with or is parallel to the plane of the door, an extremely strong construction is provided which is highly resistant to relatively great stresses of any kind and in any direction. This is true even though the various elements of which the framework 1 l is composed are of relatively small crosssectional area, the result being that the entire frame work is of relatively light weight in spite of its extreme rigidity. This feature, taken in conjunction with the fact that the panelling is preferably composed of sheet aluminum (although we do not wish to be limited to this particular material), makes it possible for us to provide a door the total weight of, which is only a fractional part of the weight of a door of the same length and breadth and constructed along more conventional lines.

Another important and advantageous feature of our construction is the manner in which the frame i i and the sheathing l2 cooperate with each other in providing an extremely strong rigid structure. Inasmuch as each of the ribs 49 whereby adjacent panels G3 are interconnected, abut at their ends against the top and bottom binding strips 43 or 91 as the case might be, and since each of these ribs is bowed slightly, each pair of ribs 49 operates as a bow truss extending transversely of the door. It is readily apparent how such a structure will reinforce the door against deformation. Furthermore these ribs 49 impart rigidity to those portions of the panels l3 which extend beyond the top and bottom chords l6 and II, respectively, of the frame I l, thereby avoiding the necessity of using a frame which corresponds in width to the height of the door.

Still another feature is the manner in which the binding strips 43 or 9| as the case might be, at the bottom edge of. the door operate as a gutter so as to prevent dripping from the edge of the door when it is disposed substantially in a horizontal plane, as would be the case when the door is mounted by being hinged along its upper edge or when used in conjunction with any of the mounting devices disclosed in our co-pending applications Serial Nos. 620,884, 632,942, and 668,196, filed July 5, 1932, September 13, 1932, and April 27, 1933, respectively, and when the door is swung to open position. It will be observed (see Fig. 2) that the binding strip 43 associated with the lower end of the door is provided with Weep holes I I, through which water collecting upon the upper surface of the door adjacent the lower edge thereof, can run so as to enter the strip and flow therein to either end of the door. The water cannot enter the space between the panels on opposite faces of the door, because of the tight fit between the bead 64 and the flange 69 at the end of the panel which is on the upper face of the door.

In the case of the single faced door, no weep holes need be provided, for the reason that the flange 91 of the binding strip 9| is spaced from the faces of the panels as indicated at 102 since the flange 91 contacts the flanges at the lateral edges of the panels, these flanges 5| being higher than the other portions of the panels. This permits water to enter the binding strip, collect within the space defined by the web 92 and the flange 93, and flow therein toward either end of the door.

We claim:

1. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing therefor comprising a plurality of panels, edges of each of said panels being reversely bent to provide flanges, and a rib interconnecting each two adjacent panels and comprising a strip having its edges reversely bent to provide flanges adapted to interlock with flanges of the associated panels, and binding strips extending along the ends of said panels, each of said binding strips embracing the associated edge of the closure and having a lateral edge thereof reversely bent to provide a flange adapted to interlock with the flanges at the ends of said panels, the ends of said ribs abutting against said binding strips to retain the ribs against displacement.

2. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing therefor comprising a plurality of panels, edges of each of said panels being reversely bent to provide flanges, and a rib interconnecting each two adjacent panels and comprising a strip having its edges reversely bent to provide flanges adapted to interlock with flanges of the associated panels, and binding strips extending along the ends of said panels, each of said binding strips embracing the associated edge of the closure and having a lateral edge thereof reversely bent to provide a flange adapted to interlock with the flanges at the ends of said panels, the ends of said ribs abutting against said binding strips to retain the ribs against displacement, the other lateral edge of each of said binding strips having means associated therewith enga,,- ing the opposite face of said closure to clamp the associated ends of said panels to said closure.

3. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing disposed upon each face thereof and comprising a plurality of panels, lateral edges of each of said panels being reversely bent to provide flanges, a rib interconnecting each two adjacent panels and comprising a strip havingitslateral edges reversely bent toprovide flanges adapt- .ed to interlock with the lateral flanges of the associated panels, and binding strips extending along the ends of said panels, each of said binding strips embracing the associated edge of said closure and engaging the outer faces of the panels on each face of the closure.

4. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing disposed upon each face thereof and comprising a plurality of panels, edges of each of said panels being reversely bent to provide flanges, a rib interconnecting each two adjacent panels and comprising a strip having its lateral edges reversely bent to provide flanges adapted to interlock with the lateral flanges of the associated panels, and binding strips extending along" the ends of said panels, each of said binding strips embracing the associated edge of said closure and having its lateral edges reversely bent to provide flanges adaptedto interlock with the end flanges of panels on both faces of said closure.

5. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing disposed upon each face thereof and comprising a'plurality of panels, edges of each of said panels being reversely bent to provide flanges, a rib interconnecting each two adjacent panels and comprising a strip having its lateral edges reversely bent to provide flanges adapted to interlock with the lateral flanges of the associated panels, and binding strips extending along the ends of said panels, each of said binding strips embracing the associated edge of said closure and having its lateral edges reversely bent to provide flanges adapted to interlock with the end flanges of panels on both faces of said closure, said binding strips abutting the ends of said ribs to retain them against movement relatively to said panels.

6. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing disposed upon each face thereof and comprising a plurality of panels, lateral edges of each of said panels being reversely bent to provide flanges, a rib interconnecting each two adjacent panels and comprising a strip having its lateral edges reversely bent to provide flanges adapted to interlock with the lateral flanges of the associated panels, and binding strips extending along the ends of said panels, each of said binding strips embracing the associated edge of said closure and engaging the outer faces of the panels on each face of the closure, the sheathing on each face of said closure being bowed inwardly adjacent its edges toward the sheathing on the opposite face of the closure to impart a substantially arcuate configuration to each face of the closure, whereby each section of sheathing is placed under tension and acts like the chord of a truss to rigidify said closure.

7. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing disposed upon each face thereof and comprising a plurality of panels, edges of each of said panels being reversely bent to provide flanges, a rib interconnecting each' two adjacent panels and comprising a strip having its lateral edgesreversely bent to provide flanges adapted to interlock withthe lateral flanges of the associated panels, and binding strips extending along the ends of said panels and along the outer edges of the panels at the ends of said closure, each of said binding strips embracing the associated edge of said closure and engaging the outer faces of the panels on each face of the closure.

8. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing disposed upon said frame and comprising a plurality of panels, at least one end of each of said panels being reversely bent to form a flange, and a binding strip extending along said ends of said panels and having a flange engaging said flanges of said panels, said binding strip having openings through which water can flow to the interior of said strip when the closure is disposed substantially horizontally, whereby said strip serves as a gutter and is adapted to conduct said water toward .an end of said closure.

9. In a frame for a closure construction, a plurality of units interconnected in end-to-end relation, each of said units comprising a plurality of trusses in spaced parallel relation, and struts and tension members interconnecting said trusses and co-operating therewith to define another truss wherein said first-mentioned trusses form the chords and Whose plane is substantially perpendicular to those of said first-mentioned trusses, the means for interconnecting said units comprising plates rigidly secured to said firstmentioned trusses and operating as struts therefor, at least one of the struts of said secondmentioned truss being in the form of the tube rigidly secured to said plates to resist torque tending to twist one end of said closure out of parallelism with the other end thereof.

10. In a knock-down closure construction, a frame, sheathing disposed upon said frame and comprising a plurality of panels, at least one end of each of said panels being reversely bent to form a flange, a binding strip extending along said ends of said panels and having a flange engaging said flanges of said panels, said binding strip having openings through which water can flow to the interior of said strip when the closure is disposed substantially horizontally whereby said strip serves as a gutter and is adapted to conduct said water to an end of said closure, said binding strip having a groove formed therein, and a strip of resilient material seated within said groove and extending outwards from said strip to form Weatherstripping adapted to engage the structure surrounding said closure.

WESLEY W. EAGER. COLUMBUS A. 'I'IERNEY. 

